Monday, May 11, 2015

Speaking of Elizabeth May ...

Given all the chatter over Green Party leader Elizabeth May's "sleep deprived" antics at the recent Ottawa Press Gallery event, I thought I'd pile on a bit and reproduce a column I wrote which appeared a few years ago in the Ottawa Citizen.

Green Party Needs a New NameIt’s time Green Party leader Elizabeth May changed the name
of her party so that it more accurately reflect its true purpose.

I’m thinking of something like: “We will do Everything we
can to Help the Liberal Party Even if it Means Undermining our own
Environmental Cause Party.”

OK that moniker might be a bit difficult to fit on a ballot,
but it sure fits the Green Party’s current raison d’etre.

After all, ever since May became Green Party leader, her chief
political goal has been less about promoting Green ideology and more about
helping Liberals get elected.

Recall, for example, that in the 2008 federal election she
decided not to run a Green candidate against then Liberal leader Stephan Dion.

And in doing so, she effectively endorsed Dion for prime
minister.

This was an odd decision since if May really thought Dion
would make a great prime minister, why was she even running?

And don’t tell me May endorsed Dion because she believed he
was some kind of green activist.

That theory doesn’t hold water because the Liberals at the
time didn’t exactly have a sparkling “green” record.

In fact, the Liberal government, of which Dion was part, had
done precious little to reduce Canada’s
greenhouse gas emissions or to implement the Kyoto Accord.

Also seemingly self-defeating was May’s bizarre call during
the 2008 federal election for strategic voting, in which she actually urged
Canadians not to vote for a Green candidate if another candidate (i.e. a
Liberal) had a better chance at defeating a Conservative.

With a friend like May, Green Party candidates didn’t need
enemies.

And even though the Liberals have fallen into third place,
May has still not given up promoting their electoral cause.

Most recently, she announced the Greens would not be running
a candidate in the upcoming Labrador
by-election against ex-Conservative cabinet minister,Peter
Penashue, and she strongly urged the NDP to follow suit, as this would increase
the probability of a Liberal victory.

May’s point is that such electoral co-operation is needed to
defeat their common enemy, the Conservatives.

This might be true, but please note May is not asking the
Liberals to step aside in the name of electoral co-operation, even though as
the Toronto Star’s Chantal Hebert recently pointed out, the provincial
NDP is growing in popularity in Newfoundland
and Labrador.

Clearly, May’s goal isn’t just for the Conservatives to
lose; it’s also for the Liberals to win.

If Green Party supporters aren’t angry about all this, then
they aren’t paying attention because it’s obvious that May is hurting their
cause.

By pulling out of election contests, for instance, May is
undermining the party’s ability to get its message out to voters.

Certainly running a Green candidate in the Labrador
by-election, which is guaranteed to receive tons of media coverage, would give
the Green Party an amazing chance to promote its cause.

But the problem for the Greens goes much deeper than just
losing free publicity.

Much deeper.

The more important question is this: if it doesn’t field
candidates in elections and if its leader keeps promoting another party, why
does the Green Party even exist?

To be blunt, if the Green Party doesn’t want to engage in
the political arena as an independent voice, with its own vision and with its
own ideals, than it serves no real or useful function.

You know, now that I think about it, maybe changing the name
of the Green Party isn’t the best answer.

Maybe it would be more logical and easier if May simply
changed parties.

No comments:

About Me

Gerry Nicholls is a communications consultant and writer who has been called a “political warrior” a “brilliant strategist” and one of the “canniest political observers in Canada.”
He has worked as a consultant in both the United States and Canada and was formerly a senior officer in the National Citizens Coalition.
A regular columnist with the Ottawa Hill Times, his work has also appeared in the Globe and Mail, the National Post and in the Sun Media chain; and he has appeared on countless TV and radio public affairs programs. He is the author of the book, Loyal to the Core, Harper, Me and the NCC.

Twitter Updates

Twitter Updates

Reviews for Loyal to the Core

“Loyal to the Core is a daring and provocative work. It deserves to be read by conservative activists and politicos.” – Western Standard

“This is a very important book.” -- Michael Coren, TV host

“A fascinating read” --- Seamus O'Regan, Canada AM

“I really enjoyed Loyal to the Core. It’s a great book”, - Charles Adler, radio host.

"Loyal to the Core should be required reading for anyone considering or starting a career at a conservative think tank or in electoral politics in general …Consider Loyal to the Core a cautionary tale that’s also a funny, easy read – with a few highly “stealable” ideas for media campaigns thrown in for good measure.”- Kathy Shaidle, author Tyranny of Nice

“Every Canadian remotely interested in politics and the state of the country should have a read of Loyal to the Core. – blogger Wendy Sullivan

"It’s rare to find a politico, however, who is equally passionate about policy and strategy, but columnist, pundit, author and Western Standard blogger Gerry Nicholls is such a person." Matthew Johnson, owner Western Standard

"If you are a conservative who wonders how conservatives can communicate their message in a hostile media climate, Loyal to the Core is a must read." -- At Home in Hespeler